Originally released in 2005 as Three (later retitled Survival Island in several parts of the world), this film offers a tantalizing and eroticized take on the disintegration of civility, love, and control while three individuals are left alone to fend for themselves on an island. Directed by Stewart Raffill, the film stars Billy Zane, Kelly Brook, and Juan Pablo Di Pace as three characters involved in a seemingly never ending battle of physical and psychological survival intertwined with thick sexual undertones.
While the film seeks to analyze the most primal of primal instincts – the drive to survive – it poses the more thought-provoking question of what takes place when conventional systems of hierarchy disintegrate. Despite not achieving critical reception, the film does allow an unfiltered glimpse into the dark side of the psyche, and the behavior of humans when subjected to life-threatening situations.
Plot Summary
Part of the story focuses on Jack, a wealthy businessman who owns a private yacht which he sails around the Caribbean with his wife Jennifer. With them is a small crew, consisting of a young man Manuel, who is strong and good-looking. Jack likes to believe he is better than everyone else, which explains the condescending attitude he adopts when interacting with Manuel. Jennifer, on the other hand, appears polite but distant.
An onboard fire burning out of control leads to the yacht exploding, altering an otherwise remarkable trip into a nightmarish one. Only Jack, Manuel, and Jennifer survive the accident. They have no supplies and no rescue plan, leading them to a deserted island where they are stranded.
Over a period of weeks, the triad of characters undergoes a radical shift of all their interpersonal dynamics. Struggling to cope with the harsh environment, Jack is forced to give up control. Adaptable Manuel begins to thrive, rapidly ramping up his level of competence relative to Jack, building a shelter, hunting, and gaining food while Jack gradually sinks into despair. In time, Jack’s helplessness leads to a power deficit imbalance that severely damages his self-esteem and authority.
Manuel’s sensitive side and physical strength draws in his new love interest Jennifer. Her new relationship leads to jealousy from Jack which drives him insane, further fuelling the already out of control suspicion. What all three of them undergo as a collective touchstone is the peak level of emotional and psychological collapse. The island and environment shifting into a battleground where conflict stems from power, control, and dominance.
Character Examination
Jack (Billy Zane)
For example, Jack, played by Billy Zane, is a highly volatile character whose emotions are entirely elevated by his position and wealth. With the disappearance of these factors on the island, Jack is reduced to a petty, paranoid, and ultimately dangerous individual. His transformation from a charming yet arrogant spouse to a vengeful and violent adversary is a haunting portrayal of fragile masculinity. He gets angry at all women and lashes out at them.
Jennifer (Kelly Brook)
Jennifer’s character is more layered, and Kelly Brook plays her with emotional bewilderment and a dash of fantasy. Once a passive spectator of the islands comedy drama, she becomes an active practitioner of feminine charm as she develops feelings for Manuel. The persona that Brook captures is at times unexplainable like love, but is it true love or just a reaction against Jack’s domineering attitude? Brook’s portrayal makes clear the tension between emotional and physical attraction.
Manuel (Juan Pablo Di Pace)
Manuel is both an instigator and an evil angel. To quote Juan Pablo Di Pace, his calm skillfulness accents the savagery with which he tries to dominate. He has the ability to single handedly raise his position as high as possible through the means of gentleness. His astounding survival skills rapidly promotes him in the new social order of the island. When Manuel isn’t trying to wield power over Jennifer, he clearly puts on display the gentile attitude he has toward her.
Themes and Symbolism
Survival and Power
Three examines how the society’s imprinted rules and standards vanish during extreme situations. The previously held financial or social power becomes secondary to physical strength and emotional manipulation. On the island, Manuel is increasingly valuable due to his practical skills and stoicism while Jack’s business intelligence is rendered useless. There is a distinct representation of control in relationships as well as control in survival in the film.
Sexual Politics and Jealousy
The love triangle is not only romantic but also possessive. In this case, Jack regards Jennifer, not as an equal, but a property to be owned, while Manuel plays the role of the loser’s male. Themes of monomania and obsession are dealt with in the film, culminating in violence. Jennifer, as always, is central to this conflict, not only as the object of lust but also as a woman caught between security, desire, and self-dignity.
Isolation and Identity
Every character’s identity is reconstructed due to intensive alienation. Freedom from societal impositions brings to light unfiltered emotions, dormant scars, and aspects of one’s true self that were hidden. For Jennifer, it is an escape from the leash that the Jack has over her. For Jack, it’s a painful deconstruction of all the factors he thought empowered him.
Visual Style and Direction
Director Raffill’s approach is a perfect complement to the setting of the film, as an island in the tropical paradise not only provides ample opportunities for superb cinematography but serves as beautiful juxtaposition to the emotional turmoil the characters undergo. The sunlit beaches, crashing waves, and sunkissed jungles brings both beauty and danger to mind and sets the stage for violence and sexual tension that unfolds in the story.
Nevertheless, the direction of the film is at times too reliant on eroticism overshadowing the narrative. The slower and romantic scenes, for example, are appealing to those captivated by sensual cinema but they do interfere with some of the deeper themes of the story. Then again, attempts to combine erotic indulgence with survival drama does lend a unique tone to the film.
Reception and Legacy
Critics did not have kind words for ‘Three’ nor ‘Survival Island’ as it was originally titled. Many were quick point out the lackluster plote combined with flat characters and predictable storyline. Not to mention the steamy sequences accompanied with an attractive cast seemed to garner more attention than the lacking narrative substance.
Despite this the film did find some appreciation amongst audiences wishing for highly provocative subjects and exotic locations, especially fans of erotic thrillers. The romance that took place behind the camera of Billy Zane and Kelly Brook added even more attention and media interest during the production of the film.
Since the release of the film, it has earned a cult following among those fond of mildly budgeted erotic thrillers. Despite lacking in originality in any given plot or story, Three is still an interesting film in the erotic thriller genre owing to its setting and thematic undertakings.
Conclusion
Three provokes the philosophical inquiry of whether civilization’s breakdown leads to anarchy or freedom. It juxtaposes love with lust, control with chaos, and money with survival. While it may not achieve the same level of quality as elevated psychological thrillers, it serves as an engaging and dramatic depiction of humanity’s potential savagery in an absence of social constraints.
For those who enjoy stories set on desolate tropical islands containing elements of erotica and psychological drama, Three is a wreakingly thrilling experience, though deeply flawed.
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